The Right to Bare Arms

Should You Wear Sleeveless?

With the economy in dire straits and wars on two fronts, who knew that when Michelle Obama decided to bare arms for her official portrait and a presidential speech, so many tongues would wag.

Some officious Washingtonians tsk-tsked; while others applauded her self-confident fashion sense. Since the first lady has become a fashion icon, it's a no-brainer that women want to copy her look, but before you bare, read some guidelines for wearing sleeveless in the workplace and other places by a trio of fashion experts.

"Sleeveless makes good sense for summer, especially in D.C.'s sizzling heat," says Marlene Aldaba, co-owner of Hu's Wear and Hu's Shoes in Georgetown.

"In an office setting, says Stacy London of "What Not to Wear," it's better to show arms than cleavage or a lot of leg." But please skip the spaghetti straps or skimpy camisole.

In any case, says Jenna Lyons, creative director of J. Crew, "consider your body shape." If you're broad in the chest and shoulders, look for a classic jewel cut that plays down a broad torso. V-neck sleeveless styles work better on thinner frames, notes Lyons.

As with any popular look, says London, the key to pulling it off is to "know thyself." Are you comfortable with bare arms; do you like showing them off? Know what you want to emphasize and what to camouflage to create the most flattering silhouette.

"An alternative to sleeveless," says London, "is the three-quarter length sleeve, which is very feminine and lighter than long." Also, a short-sleeve jacket that emphasizes the shoulder makes the torso and arms look smaller by comparison. Aldaba favors a cap sleeve as an in-between option.

If sleeveless doesn't work for you, if you feel as if you're showing too much skin, wear a cardigan, concur London and Lyons.

Skin Sense

If you want to show off your arms, make sure your skin looks smooth and polished. For those pesky bums that many of us get on our upper arms, Boston-based dermatologist Dr. Rachel Herschenfeld suggests gentle scrubbing with a mildly abrasive cleanser, followed up with a moisturizer that contains glycolic acid (such as AquaGlycolic, Eucerin Plus or Glytone) or lactic acid (such as AmLactin). And don't forget sunscreen to slow the onset of crepey, dry skin and discoloration.